[Pythonmac-SIG] python extension on MacOS

[Jack Jansen]

Recently, Luc Lefebvre <lefebvre@med.mcgill.ca> said:
> In order for choosing Python for this project I would need to be able to
> extend it (using a shared library? as I have done for Tcl/Tk) in order to
> interface with some hardware (a data acquisition system).  Is there an
> example project out there of a Python extension for the Mac that I could
> use (preferably using CodeWarrior for the MacOS) as a template?

Yes, this is pretty easy under MacPython. The standard installer
already has the "developer option", install that to get all needed
headers and a sample project. This should be enough to develop
extensions, otherwise you can always go to source.

> I also have *very* limited experience with the Python extensions like
> numpy.  Is it feasible to do all of my number crunching (typical would be
> matrix operations, scaling for plotting purposes) using numpy on the Mac?

Probably.

> Are there any plotting extensions for the Mac?

I think Imaging will do some plotting, but I've never used it. Anyone
else know an answer to this?

> Also, with MacOS-X (server?) out there, would I be better off going
> directly to that and using *nix tools instead?

For MacOS X Server: yes, probably. For MaxOS X it is unclear
currently whether the best solution will be based on current Unix
Python or MacPython. But don't worry, the result will be called
MacPython:-) 

> I am currently working through ORA "Learning Python".  Any other
> recommendations?

Programming Python is good too.
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